Exploring Expectations #2

New Years is a bit of a time for giving your slate a bit of clean and having the opportunity to start afresh.

Your slate could be something as simple as cleaning out the fridge, getting rid of the last bits of Christmas food and re stocking it with healthy food and making a meal plan, to planning a trip of a lifetime. But, no matter how large or small your slate, it is a good idea to think of what expectations you have in relation to your choices.

What do you expect from removing the chocolate from your fridge and replacing it with superfoods? Are you expecting a body like Beyonce after a month and is this attainable or would a gentle transition into eating a healthier diet long term be more within your attainable expectations. Think about how you will feel if you aren’t Crazy in Love with your body after a month against how you might feel after a few months of gently introducing healthier options in to your diet and under which situation you are most likely to have your expectations met.

I found myself thinking over Christmas that come January I would sign up to give up alcohol for a month, practice yoga every day and try out Veganuary. I would write a blog post at least every two weeks and begin to read all the books I have in the cupboard and sort out my finances. I would go visit my family at least once a week and make more dates with friends to see them out socially.

I then wrote it all done realised that I also had to fit in work, school runs, swimming clubs and Scouts. Without military planning I was probably setting myself up for a huge set of expectations unmet. So I went back to the drawing board.

I have my whole life been one for taking on projects that seemed like a great idea at the beginning only find I didn’t have the time to complete them, or get stressed out with the pressure and then give them up. This has often led to me feeling like I have failed and it is a born out of placing to0 high expectations on myself but not having the tools to deal with the unmet expectations.

So, this January I am going to monitor my alcohol intake, I have put the Dry January app on my phone and each night before bed I honestly note whether I have had a drink or not. I had a gin and tonic last night whilst I watched the TV, do I feel like I have failed? No. I feel like I had a gin and tonic whilst I watched TV.

I have decided to integrate some vegan foods into the weekly family diet, foods that I know will get eaten. This gives me both the chance to experiment and enjoy a new way of eating but also not have a lot of waste and arguments at the tea table.

I am absolutely going to read the books I already own and not purchase anymore and I really made the most of the last 30 minutes of 2017 by browsing and purchasing books on Amazon before the New Year rung in!

And finally, family and friends. By far the most important thing and the resolution I am going to do my utmost to keep.

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